Portable computer with touch screen and computer system employing same

Abstract

A portable, self-contained, general-purpose, keyboardless computer utilizes a touch screen display for data entry purposes. An application generator allows the user to develop data entry applications by combining the features of sequential libraries, consequential libraries, help libraries, syntax libraries, and pictogram libraries into an integrated data entry application. A run time utility allows the processor to execute the data entry application.

What is intended to be covered by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer comprising: A. a combined input/output device including a display for displaying outputs on a touch-sensitive screen, said screen superposed over said display and configured for manual entry of responses;   B. memory means for storing any of a plurality of data collection applications, an operating system and data, said data collection applications determining contents and formats of said outputs displayed on said screen;   C. a central processing unit connected to said memory means and said input/output device for executing said data collection applications stored in said memory means; and   D. an application generator for generating said data collection applications and for creating different functional libraries relating to said contents and said formats displayed on said screen, said application generator operating in conjunction with said operating system to partition said memory means for storing said data collection applications and libraries.   
     
     
       2. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 1 further comprising means for powering said input/output device and said processing unit. 
     
     
       3. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 2 further comprising a computer enclosure for housing said memory means, said central processing unit, said input/output device and said powering means, said enclosure having a window disposed within a top surface thereof for rendering said display visible and said touch sensitive screen manually accessible. 
     
     
       4. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 3 wherein said enclosure includes a substantially planar surface defining said window, and said window constitutes at least 30% of said top surface's surface area. 
     
     
       5. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 1 wherein said application generator includes means for personalizing said libraries, together with said contents and said formats displayed on said screen, according to a specific data collection application executed by said central processing unit. 
     
     
       6. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 1 wherein a first library created by said application generator includes a sequential library of possible responses configured for display on said screen in selected ones of said formats. 
     
     
       7. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 6 wherein a second library created by said application generator includes a consequential library of one of actions and executable instructions associated with said possible responses for changing the flow of said data collection applications. 
     
     
       8. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 7 wherein said possible responses are one of text and pictograms. 
     
     
       9. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 8 wherein said pictograms comprise graphical images of objects and wherein a third library created by said application generator includes a pictogram library of said pictograms. 
     
     
       10. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 9 wherein a fourth library created by said application generator includes a syntax library of predefined message outputs displayed on said screen, and whereby changes to said predefined message outputs are effected by accessing said syntax library and manually entering desired message outputs. 
     
     
       11. The self-contained, general-purpose, portable, keyboardless computer of claim 10 wherein said application generator further includes means for cross-referencing said responses with one of said libraries of said possible responses. 
     
     
       12. A portable, keyboardless, computer comprising: an input/output device for displaying inquiries on a touch-sensitive screen, said screen configured for entry of responses to said inquiries;   a memory for storing at least one data collection application configured to determine contents and formats of said inquiries displayed on said screen;   a processor coupled to said memory and said input/output device for executing said data collection application; and   an application generator for generating said data collection application and for creating different functional libraries relating to said contents and said formats displayed on said screen, said application generator further comprising means for cross-referencing responses to said inquiries with possible responses from one of said libraries; and   a run-time utility operating in conjunction with said processor to execute said application and said libraries to facilitate data collection operations.   
     
     
       13. The computer of claim 12 wherein said different functional libraries include: a sequential library of said possible responses configured for display on said screen in selected ones of said formats;   a consequential library of one of actions and executable instructions associated with said possible responses for changing the flow of said data collection applications; and   a pictogram library for storing graphical images of objects.   
     
     
       14. A portable, keyboardless, data collection unit comprising: an input/output device for displaying and entering information on a touch-sensitive screen;   a memory for storing a data collection application and various functional libraries relating to contents and formats of said information displayed on said screen;   a processor coupled to said memory and said input/output device for executing said data collection application; and   a run-time utility operating in conjunction with said processor to execute said application and said libraries to facilitate data collection operations.   
     
     
       15. The unit of claim 14 wherein said libraries include: a sequential library of possible responses configured for display on said screen in selected ones of said formats;   a consequential library of one of actions and executable instructions associated with said possible responses for changing the flow of said data collection application; and   a pictogram library of pictograms.